Combined pen-rack and inkstand-holder.



$0. 809,646. PATENTED JAN. 9

L. TRIPODI.

COMBINED PEN BACK AND INKSTAND HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1906.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Inventor P'ATENI'ED JAN. 9, 1906.

. L. TRIPODI. I

COMBINED PEN BACK AND INKSTAND HOLDER.

APPLICATION TILED JAN.-I.6, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lllv l v Inventor:

' No. 809,646. v PATBNTED JAN. 9, 1906.

.L. TRIPODI. v COMBINED PEN RACK AND INKSTAND HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED TANK 16, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Inventor:

- Atty.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCA TRIPODI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed January 16, 1905- Serial No. 241,200-

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUCA Truronr, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Pen-Rack and Inkstand-Holder, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to inkstand-holders, and especially to that type thereof which is formed into or provided with holders for pens or with a pen-rack, the invention therefore especially relating to a'combined inkstandholder and pen-rack.

It is an object of this invention to produce an inkstand-holder and pen-rack which will not only be highly ornamental and artistic in its structure and appearance, but which will also present utility and have certain simple structural mechanical features rendering it useful without detracting from its esthetic appearance.

Another object of this invention is to produce from any one of the various forms of univalve shells suitable for the purpose a useful, as well as ornamental, article of desk furniture.

Another object of this invention is to produce a combined inkstand-holder and penrack from an ornamental shell and in so doing provide the same with certain simple and compact mechanical and structural features which will render it useful for the purposes stated and structurally strongand compact as a whole.

l/Vith the above objects in view and others which will appear during the course of this description the invention consists in the parts, features, and combinations of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood and its esthetic and useful features appreciated, several sheets of drawings accompany and form part of this specification, and therein- Figure 1 shows in top plan the combined inkstand-holder and pen-rack made in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 shows the invention in front elevation, the inkstands being shown in place in the holders in dotted lines. Fig. 3 portrays a vertical transverse section of the device on the line 3 3 of Fig. l; and Fig. 4 represents in detail sectional view a portion of the device, showing another or alternative structure.

Referring to the drawings, the shell shown by preference is of the univalve type and commonly known as a sea-shell belonging to the conch family and consisting of several varieties, such as the trochid and the tun shell. These shells or this type of shell are preferable on account of natural physical features, consisting of the spiral body portion 1, which is sometimes conical, and which body portion has a single cavity or chamber 2 of spiral outline and is extended to a point or apex 3. The whirls 4 of this shell wind or twist around a central axis 5, which is sometimes open or hollow. The body portion at its mouth 6 is also extended into what may be termed technically a margin, but me chanically a lip, ledge, or support 7, which is more or less extensive. The body portion is also provided sometimes with a thickened base 8, which is sometimes extensive and spreads more or less over the bottom of the shell. This particular form of shell is preferable on account of its structural features just described and because it readily lends itself to esthetic designs and useful mechanical purposes.

As shown in the several figures, the ledge 7 is perforated from top to bottom for the reception of screws 9, the stem of each of which passes through an aperture in the bottom 10 of an inkstand-holder, from which bottom are bent or projected vertically several spring-fingers 11, slightly deflected at the top for easy insertion of an inkstand 12. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.) Each inkstand-holder may have three or four of the spring-fingers 11 and is secured in place on the ledge 7 by the head of the screw 9, which passes therethrough and clamps the same in place by cooperating with a screw-threaded socket 12, provided in the upper end of the leg or support 13 of any suitable form, provided with the base or rest 14, the ledge 7 be ing thus tightly clamped between the upper end of the leg 13 and the bottom of the body portion 10 of the inkstand-holder, and the latter being thus tightly clamped in place on the top of the ledge 7. Obviously as many of these inkstand-holders may be provided and clamped in place on the ledge 7 as may be desired. The portion 8 of the base of the shell is carved or cut away so as to produce a rest, support, or leg of a length corresponding with the leg or legs 13. Thus irrespective of the conformation of the bottom of the shell, which might offer an obstruction to the level disposition of the ledge 7, the bottom of the shell can be elevated above the table or other IIO support by means of the formed leg 8 and the applied leg or legs 13. In the present instance I have illustrated two legs and two inkstand-holders clamped together, as de scribed, and disposed, as shown, so that legs 13 will be in triangular relation with reference to the formed leg 8, this structure and disposition providing the article with a firm support and properly balancing the same, as will be readily understood.

Fig. 4 shows another form of means by which the legs 13 can be applied to the ledge 7 and the inkstand-holders 10 can also be applied to the ledge 7, but independently of the legs 13. In this form the structure of the legs 1 3 is identical with that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the screw is passed through a perforation in the ledge 7 into the socket 12 in the same manner; but the head 15 of the screwis round ed or otherwise made ornamental and maybe nickeled or otherwise lacquered, so as to present a nice finish. The inkstand-holder of this figure is secured to the ledge 7 independently of the leg 13 by means of the screw 16 passing through an aperture in the inkstand-holder and firmly set in cement, solder, or other like cementitious matter 17 the latter being retained in place by forming the aperture through the ledge 7, much larger than the body 18 of the screw and giving to the walls 19 of the aperture in the ledge 7 the flared form shown, so as to provide a surface for the support of the cement 17, as clearly shown in the said figure. Obviously in this form of fastening means the body of the screw 18 will be formed comparatively short and the cement 17 will tightly bind and hold the screw in place. This form is preferable where the ledge 7 is not extensive, as in small shells, and when but one inkstand-holder is applied, but

' when it may be necessary to have two legs in front for the support of the shell as in the other figures.

From the above structural and mechanical features it will be clear that the inkstandholders can be firmly but detachably secured to the ledge 7, as in Fig. 3, or rigidly fixed to said ledge, as in Fig. 4; also, that the legs are detachable though firmly clamped in place, so that according to the conformation of the bottom of the shell legs of proper length can be applied to lift the bottom of the shell from the table, desk, or other rest. Thus irrespective of variations in the form of the shells, and there are myriads of natural shapes, the mechanical features are so combined therewith and applied thereto as to not only take advantage of and utilize natural physical features, as described with reference to the ledge 7 and leg 8, but to overcome and prevent them from interfering with the purpose and function of the structure.

The body of the shell in order to enhance its beauty is preferably carved and filigreed,

as shown in the several figures, and in thus ornamenting the shell-body certain portions of the top thereof are cut away, so as to provide the recesses 20 and 21 with the intermediate shell material removed. These two recesses form receptacles or supports for the opposite ends of a pencil or penholder, and the adjacent bar 22 of the shell, though not structurally necessary, is left for ornamental purposes. Likewise the top of the shell is carved and filigreed to produce the recesses 23 and 24, thus providing additional means for the support of a penholder or pencil, the two sets of said supporting means being thus separated by the longitudinal ornamental shell strip or bar 22. Various ornate and esthetic effects can be produced by additionally carving or filigreeing the shell-body, as shown in the several figures, and the spiral whirls may be carved and cut away, as shown at 25, to provide a receptacle in which a rubber, knife-eraser, or other like article can be set at rest for handy use.

Thus from the above description it will be seen that I have produced a novel, highly-ornamental, and exceedingly useful article of manufacture, that there is no limitation as to the esthetic effects which can be produced, and that the physical features of the shell used can be turned to account mechanically and structurally for useful purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As an article of manufacture, an inkstand-holder composed of a shell having a ledge, said ledge being provided with means for holding an inkstand, and also provided with means for supporting the shell and maintaining the ledge substantially horizontal.

2. As an article of manufacture, an inkstand-holder composed of a shell having a ledge, the latter being provided with means for holding an inkstand, and said ledge having mechanically combined therewith a leg for supporting the same substantially horizonta 3. An inkstand-holder composed of a shell, having a ledge, the latter having secured thereto a plurality of supportingdegs, and the shell having the bottom of its body portion shaped or formed to produce another supporting-leg, the said legs being disposed in triangular relation, so as to afford a supstantial support for the shell.

4. An inkstand-holder composed of a shell having a ledge, the latter having means secured thereto for holding an inkstand, and the body of the said shell being carved, or otherwise ornamented, so as to produce a support for a penholder.

5. The article of manufacture described, composed of a shell having means on its bottom for supporting it, and having its body portion carved and ornamented so as to produce one or more supports for a penholder.

tion free from the table, &c., a device for holding an inkstand supported by the ledge, and a clamping means for securing the sup-v porting means and holding device to the ledge. o

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUCA TRIPODI.

Witnesses:

PASQUALE GALARDI, CHAS. MOO. CHAPMAN. 

